Midleton CBS face intriguing battle with tough opener against Ardscoil Rís

A combination of factors has meant today is the day Midleton CBS begin their Dr Harty Cup campaign, with a Group A clash against Ardscoil Rís in Cahir (1.30pm).

The start of both the Harty and its football equivalent the Corn Uí Mhuirí was put back compared to previous years, with just one round of each played before last week’s mid-term break. With five teams in two Harty groups, it meant Midleton and east Cork neighbours, Youghal’s Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, had to sit out the opening round. Midleton manager Ronan Dwane doesn’t necessarily think that that was a bad thing, though.

“There are a couple of points of view,” he says. “On the one hand, it gave clubs time to finish up their competitions so the players didn’t have too many demands. The other side is we don’t have any competitive games under our belt as we got a bye in the O’Callaghan Cup (the senior competition for Cork schools) too, we’re playing St Colman’s in the quarter-final of that.